lightning causes thunder. lightning happens instantaneously, but thunder (at a distance) sounds like it’s coming, then it claps, then fades away. this don’t make no damn sense given that light and sound move at fixed rates.
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The people mentioning sound bouncing are not wrong. But you have to keep in mind that the entire length of the lightning also makes a sound. From the part that’s closest to the ground to the part that connects to the clouds. The whole thing makes a sound from the air being converted to plasma in an instant, all the way up. (Most lightning travels “up”, travel of electrons from ground as the ionosphere desires that charge). Most lightning travels as a “desire” for electrons down, until the most direct path for electrons to travel up is established. Then travels back up as a wave of electrons makes its way from ground into the sky.
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